Folding crate.



PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908., B. BARKER. FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIOATIOX FILED m1. 2. 1907.

INVEN TOR Ali army UNITED STATlis BENJAMIN BARKER, -OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of

which the following is a specification.

Myinvention has for its object to provide a I folding crate, the same being especiallyad apted as a folding banana crate.

It will readily be seen that in order to provide a collapsible or folding crate for a bunch of bananas a peculiar construction is required over folding crates of ordinary construction for other uses.

My invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the crate in expanded position. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a view in plan of a crate in a folded position. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the folded crate. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the hoops.

The expense of returning empty banana crates as ordinarily constructed is very considerable, and it is obviously of great advantage if a folding crate can be made for economy in shipping and storage, as well as cartage.

I carry out my invention as follows: My invention contemplates forming a crate with a series of hoops indicated at a, said hoops in set up position extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the crate. On opposite sides of the hoops I provide supporting bars 5, 6 extending longitudinally of the longitudinal axis of the crate and having a jointed connection with each of the hoops as indicated. at c, as upon connecting pivot pins extending through the hoops and corresponding bars I) permitting the hoops to be folded at right angles to their normal or set up position within the oppositely extended bars 6. The lower hoop may be'provided with cross bars (Z and the upper hoop with a burlap sack indicated at Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 2, 1907.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Serial No. 360,196.

e, the sack extending through the intermediate hoop. Intermediate the bars 6, b the hoops are united by upright strips or guards indicated. at f, these guards or strips f may be jointedly connected with the corresponding hoops in'any suitable manner. Thus, for example, the hoops may be provided with a series of eyes indicated at g with which the guards f are engaged. The guards f may also be connected by transverse guards h intermediate the hoops.

Upon one of the bars I) I mount a slide movable longitudinally of the axis of the set up crate indicated at i to support the hoops in set up position and hold the crate from collapsing. The slide i may be formed with forked extremities indicated at 3', the forks extending over the opposite edges of the hoops when in folded position to hold the device in collapsed condition, the slide being formed at one end with the pin indicated at 70 toward the upper end thereof to engage in an orifice Z in the adjacent bar to hold the crate in locked position when set up, the lower forks 7', when the crate is in set up position, passing inside of the lower hoop as forks also extending within the intermediate hoop. When the crate is collapsed the canvas covering or bag 6 will obviously fold in between the bars I) and guards f. I prefer that the hoops and bars, as well as the intermediate guards or braces should be made of metal. A crate so constructed is obviously simple and economical, as well as of superior efliciency.

The lower hoop and intermediate hoop, in

order to be properly engaged by the extremities j of the slide, are preferably recessed as indicated at m. The guardsf extend to the upper edges of the hoops on one side of the device and to the lower edges of the hoops on the opposite side of the device, as shown.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to any particular material from which to manufacture the crate.

What I claim as my invention is:

A folding crate comprising a series of supporting bars, hoops arranged transversely to shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the upper the supporting aXis when in set up position the crate from collapsing, substantially as jointedly connected with said bars on oppoand for the purpose described. 19 site sides of the hoops, guards intermediate In testimony whereof I affiX my signature the supporting bars jointedly connected with in presence of two Witnesses.

the hoops, and a slide mounted upon one of BENJAMIN BARKER.

said bars and movable longitudinally of the WVitnesses:

crate to engage a plurality of the hoops to E. B. NORRIS,

support the hoops in set up position and hold J. W. DWYER. 

